Do You Commemorate May 14?

April 22, 2025

On May 14, 2025, Rotterdam will mark the 85th anniversary of the bombing that devastated the city in 1940. To honor this significant moment in history, the Comité Herdenking 14 mei has curated a special remembrance program under the theme The Face of Remembrance.

This year’s theme was inspired by a large-scale investigation conducted in 2022 by the Rotterdam City Archives and the Voorouder Foundation. The research shed new light on the number of casualties during the May 1940 days of battle—revealing that more than 700 residents died in the bombing alone.

For decades, the focus of remembrance in Rotterdam has been on the city’s destruction, while the human toll received less attention. But the passage of time has not lessened the impact. The bombing continues to resonate, both within the city and among the descendants of those affected.

This year, the names and faces of the civilian victims will be brought back into the public eye. From the Hofland Lecture at the Bibliotheektheater to the interfaith memorial service at the Laurenskerk, and a special name projection in collaboration with Mothership and VideoAgency—this year's program makes remembrance deeply personal.

Now, more than ever, commemoration matters.